Ionia trio completes another successful trip

Flynn, Mackowiak and Hopkins take third at Huntsman World Senior Games

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By Andrew Robertsandrew.roberts@sentinel-standard.com

Ionia Sentinel - Standard-Ionia, MI

By Andrew Robertsandrew.roberts@sentinel-standard.com

Posted Jan. 21, 2013 at 11:35 PM
Updated Jan 21, 2013 at 11:39 PM

By Andrew Robertsandrew.roberts@sentinel-standard.com

Posted Jan. 21, 2013 at 11:35 PM
Updated Jan 21, 2013 at 11:39 PM

IONIA

Another year, another successful three days in Utah for three men from Ionia.

Ron Flynn, Jerry Hopkins and Dick Mackowiak brought home bronze medals after finishing third in the men's 70-76 year-old gold division of the 3-on-3 tournament back in October at the 2012 Huntsman World Senior Games.

In all, 11 teams competed in the division.

The Ionia trio were also joined by teammates Sid Holtzer and Gary Kaylor from Florida.

The team finished 7-1 for the tournament and finished behind a team from Virgina and one from Arizona.

Mackowiak said that the competition is solid at the Huntsman World Senior Games, especially in their division where some teams have former college players on their rosters.

"You are starting to see more former college players in the games," he said. "Some of these guys played at Division I powers like Duke and North Carolina back in the 1950s and 1960's."

"A lot of people think you are supposed to have an advantage as one of the younger teams in the division," Flynn said. "But these guys that are still playing at 75 are extremely good.

Along with the 3-on-3 tournament, Flynn also played with a team in the 5-on-5 tournament.

The team has made 12 trips to St. George for the senior world games and have come back with medals eight times, including one gold.

Flynn said although its always nice to come home with a medal, the best part of the games is being able to play with men who have been friends of his for many years.

"The nice part for me is playing with teammates that I have played with for 15 years, and with a high school classmate (Hopkins).

"There is great camaraderie there. Not only between teammates, but with our opponents as well."

Some members of the Huntsman team are planning on returning to senior competition this summer at the Michigan Senior Olympics in June, with a chance to play in the Summer National Games in July in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Ionia trio has earned spots in the summer games four times, earning the bronze in their age group in 2009.